Date:         Tue, 20 Nov 2001 22:14:46 EST
Reply-To:     BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben T <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM>
Subject:      (NVC) SF International Auto Show this week
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey Gang,

Went to the International in Moscone Center in San Francisco yesterday. Save
your money. Looks like a New car dealer car lot as usual. Nothing really
exciting from VW. There is a sole Eurobago there. Weekender package ($3995)
on top of the Eurovan price tag which I believe was close to $30K. Nice but
just doesn't scream VW as the Vanagon does. They don't even have a single
Passat on the floor.

Lots of nice SUV's if you're into those things. The Rover Freelander is
there. Honda CRV size for $25K. Subaru WRX of every persuasion. Huge Domestic
SUV's look more like tractor trailers. They actually dwarf the Hummers. One
hummer was such a joke. They have jump seats in the rear compartment. Floor
to ceiling was about 3 feet. These must be for "Mini Me" size people. The
Nissan Crew Cabs are neat but legroom in the back is only perfect for the
most diminutive of your children.

There's a few nice semi-Exotica like the 911GT2 ($192K with $1300 gas guzzler
tax). Why doesn't this tax apply to SUV's? 1967 Ferrari GTB4, Gullwing
Mercedes, Bunch of racecars including a Formula Vee. nothing that wasn't
there very year.

Even the accessory aisle had less a dozen vendors.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Audi had the new TT coupe. looks like a suction cup
with exhausts. Kewt. Couple of Avants (wagons) including the AllRoad. These
were worth looking at.

Mercedes has the new C-class coupe and the sedate looking AMG SLK with
something like 340 hp under the hood. There was a lone G-wagen on display. It
was the only one locked in the whole place. Ugly sucker but I guess beauty is
in the eye of the beholder. Lots of beholders hanging around it.

If you must go, today. It's $3.50. I think tomorrow it jumps to $8.50. BTW,
it was very odd that there were no security precautions whatsoever. Parking
at the Moscone Center Garage is free for the first hour if you have 3
passengers. Free for two hours if you have 4 passengers. After that it's
about $2 an hour.

Well, if TG dinner gets boring, it may be a good way to walk-off some of that
gravy.

BenT